The Wagon Wheel School was established in 1946.  In 1978 Ruth Segal took over the school and brought to it her own unique philosophy and principles.

Hidden away in a corner of Hollywood at Melrose Ave and Cahuenga Blvd, the Wagon Wheel School campus is an idyllic haven for its very diverse, multi-cultural group of young students.  Three buildings serve as the class rooms; the first for the 2 and 3 year olds (the Twinklers, the Teddy Bears, the Bumblebees and the Ramblers), the second houses the 4 and 5 year olds (the Bunnies, the Cheerios and the Crickets), and the third is home to the Developmental Kindergarten Class.

The fourth building is its new multi-functional building.  The lower level of the building serves as an airy and light auditorium and performance space where children are taught dance and music.  The upper level houses the staff offices and staff lounge.  The building is very special because it was designed as a collaboration between parents here who are architects and interior designers.  Kristina Loock, Kelly Wearstler, Tia Zoldan, Linda Chung, Renee Wilson, and Brian Wilson all contributed their time and creativity to this special project.    

The four buildings of the campus surround a beautiful, lush garden which is divided into a number of discrete play areas for children of different ages.  

The Wagon Wheel School experience is centered around creativity and cultural awareness.  Teachers introduce shapes, colors, basic math concepts and letter recognition through a wide variety of creative art and science projects.  Weekly music classes and dance classes, and a multitude of cultural and musical events enrich their learning experience.  Children are encouraged to be independent thinkers and problem solvers and to express themselves.  There is a special emphasis on promoting self-esteem, and helping students express their needs through words.  This is achieved in a variety of ways, for example, every Monday morning the children have Show & Tell to teach them how to speak in front of a group and every Wednesday morning one of the eight classes performs for the school and their parents.  In the higher grades there is a stronger emphasis on academics based on a recognition that there is an obligation prepare the children scholastically for their future schools and any testing that they may be required to do.

The teachers at Wagon Wheel School deserve particular mention.  A number of the teachers have been at the school for over twenty years, the majority of the other teachers have been at the school for a minimum of five years.  It is a very familial environment, very warm, very comfortable, very stimulating, and there is always laughter.  Wagon Wheel's teachers are passionate about their kids and their school.  While the style of each teacher may vary, there is a collective understanding of the power and importance of play, and they create a solid, loving and supportive environment where kids have fun, love school and flourish socially, emotionally and academically.

Parents are encouraged to participate in the school as much as they would like and are able.  There is an open door policy and there are plethora of ways that parents can collaborate in the school program, including preparing and serving Hot Lunches on Fridays, working on the monthly newsletter, Round the Wheel; assisting with traffic escort; or being a member of the Fund Raising Gala Committee, Friends of Wagon Wheel or the Garden Project Committee.  If none of these suits you, you can make something up.  The fundamental assumption is that the children love to have their parents around the school and that the school is an even more exciting and inspiring learning environment when its diverse and phenomenally talented parent body share their time and experience.

If this seems like a school that would be a fit for your family please give the director's assistant, Carol Jeffers, a call on 323-469 8994 to arrange a tour of the school.

The admissions process starts every year in mid-April.  At this time, you are invited to call us and schedule an appointment for a tour of the school.  The tours take place every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 10am during the months of September through the first week of December.  Upon taking the tour, you will be given an application form which should be filled out, signed, and sent back with a photograph of your family and a check in the amount of $75.00 (application fee).  We ask that parents do not bring children to this initial tour.

Children have to be around 2 years old by July.  We take children ages 2 to 5 years old, and have a developmental kindergarten.  In late January or early February you will be notified if you have gained a place in the school.

The school is open for parent drop-off at 7:30am, but the program officially begins at 9am.  School is open until 3pm, with an optional after school program (for children 3 and up) that runs until 4:30pm.  Tuition for the school is $1400 per month.